3 Ways Pennsbury-Morrisville Schools Could Merge

FALLSINGTON, PA —A 161-page feasibility study has been released providing three options for a potential merger of the Pennsbury and Morrisville school districts.

The report by Philadelphia-based PFM Group Consulting LLC offers three scenarios for consideration to determine whether a merger or tuition arrangement might be “in the best interest of both school districts, including, but not limited to, if instructional opportunities would be enhanced for all students at a similar or reduced cost to taxpayers.”

Those scenarios include:

• A merger scenario where all Morrisville students are educated by the Pennsbury School District.
• A tuition scenario where Morrisville sends its students in grades 3-12 to Pennsbury’s schools.
• A tuition scenario where Morrisville sends its students in grades 6-12 to Pennsbury’s schools.

PFM provided the scenarios but did not offer a suggestion for which might be the best option in its study.

"The report's intent was to identify major issues that should be considered if the Boards of Pennsbury and Morrisville wish to consider a merger or tuition agreement," Schools Superintendent Thomas E. Smith said. "The report represents a good first step in what will be a much broader conversation."

PFM will provide an overview of their report on Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. in the Pennsbury High School East Auditorium. It will also be live-streamed, recorded, and placed on the Pennsbury website.

There will be an opportunity for public comment regarding the report, potential merger, or another tuition arrangement between Pennsbury and the Morrisville School District.

Neither Board will be voting on the report or any recommendations at this meeting, and no vote is scheduled regarding a merger or tuition agreement."

The 161-page report is available on the Pennsbury school district website. The report was released late Thursday just before the school district's winter break.

In the report, the study team found that all alternatives are viable and would improve the financial position of both school districts while providing sufficient and enhanced teaching, counseling, and para-professional support to ensure that all children will succeed academically.

Any merger or tuition agreement would not begin prior to the 2024-25 school year, providing substantial time for preparation and transition, the study suggests.

Other findings state:

• As in other merger and tuition agreements across the State, no distinction would be made between students from either district in classrooms, availability of academic supports, ability to participate in extracurricular activities, or other programs or facilities.
• If Morrisville students attend Pennsbury schools, they would be bused on local routes like Pennsbury students and would not walk to a single central pickup/drop-off point; where Morrisville students attend Morrisville schools, they would continue to walk.
• Given current differences in academic achievement between the two districts, various supports – mostly additional teachers and counselors – are provided for the first five years of the new arrangement, with those resources reduced by one-half beginning in the sixth year of the agreement.
• It is assumed that Pennsbury retains all 25 of Morrisville’s budgeted paraprofessional staff to support special education students.
• Morrisville schools would adopt Pennsbury’s curriculum in remaining grades in order to improve transitions when students reach a grade level to attend Pennsbury schools.
• Under all scenarios, Morrisville’s children in grades K-2 will be educated in the borough, and two scenarios assume that they will continue to be enrolled at the Grandview Elementary School.
• The study does not assume redistricting of existing Pennsbury students.

In terms of financial assumptions, the study team:

• Used a 10-year baseline financial projection for Pennsbury, closely modeled on Pennsbury’s existing public 10-year model.
• Constructed a 10-year baseline financial projection for Morrisville.
• The state will continue its recent Ready to Learn block grant or equivalent support of Morrisville in an amount of $1 million each year.
• The state would provide additional assistance for recurring or certain one-time costs.
• Tuition provided by Morrisville to Pennsbury includes an overhead factor to cover various hard-to calculate costs and to provide funds to invest in Pennsbury’s long-term success.

The study considers the tax impact on residents of both school districts as well.

While assuming debt and debt service by existing Pennsbury taxpayers might be a "burden that outweighs the benefit of the additional real estate tax revenue that would also transfer to Pennsbury," the study states, it may boost property values in Morrisville, which would benefit a combined district.

Another matter that must be decided is whether a merger should go to voters.

The study states that during the feasibility committee meetings, it was suggested that due to the breadth and impact of the merger/tuition decision, the school boards should have a referendum to allow input from voters.

The School Code provides for a merger after a majority vote of both school boards and review and approval by the Commonwealth, but leaves the question of a referendum and other optional procedures for decision by the two boards.

"The report does not tell the boards whether they should move forward. Rather, it aims to provide sufficient information for them to determine under what circumstances they could do so and provides guidance on what issues will need to be discussed and decided next. Undergoing a merger or beginning a tuition agreement are complex processes that will require many months of planning and discussion before they could become a reality," the study states.

Smith said a committee of more than 20 people from both communities provided feedback and varied perspectives.